Bips & Pieces
Russian Government Issuance Surged in 2019, RUB and Hard Currency Bond Yields Diverge
Demand for government notes grew 1.5x from 2018, but was outpaced by more than 3x increase in supply, according to official state figures.
4 Mar 2020
IMF Marks “Good Progress” in Ukraine Visit, but More Reforms Needed
The International Monetary Fund said this week that it had made good progress in talks with the Ukrainian authorities over the approval for a new loan programme to Ukraine worth USD5.5bn but its disbursement depends on Kiev’s performance on reforms, including a special law on banking.
3 Mar 2020
DAE Recommends Buying its Own Dip in Bond Repurchasing Boost
Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE) has touted its bond repurchasing programme in a bid to shore up demand for its outstanding notes, a move that could be replicated by other regional issuers seeing a drop-off in credit demand.
3 Mar 2020
Volatility Could See Gulf Issuers Shun Bonds for Loan Markets
With spreads widening and bond pricing on the rise, some Gulf-based issuers are looking to maintain a holding pattern until market volatility subsides, while others could lean on the region’s large lenders for funding.
3 Mar 2020
Turkish Economy Shows Strong Rebound 4Q2019, Shift Away from Credit-Driven Growth Still Needed
2019 GDP growth was underpinned by a positive contribution from net exports at 2.3%, while domestic demand dragged down 1.4% – but in Q4 those dynamics reversed, according to BBVA report.
2 Mar 2020
Risk of Oil Price Collapse ‘High’ as Russia Urges Caution on OPEC+ Action - Standard Chartered
Russia’s slowness to respond to a fall in demand for oil following the coronavirus outbreak could send oil prices plummeting to as low as USD30 per barrel, according to analysts at Standard Chartered Bank.
2 Mar 2020
Impact of Coronavirus Begins to Show in Economic Data
As the coronavirus continues to spread, with novel cases being reported in countries across the world almost daily, its impact is beginning to become evident in economic data.
28 Feb 2020
Fixed-Income Investors Look to Dump HY, Pile into Private Credit as Clouds Gather over Economy – Blackrock
More late cycle-related rebalancing is likely to take place in 2020 amid declining global rates and a whole host of destabilizing factors, including geopolitical uncertainty and economic “black swans”.
28 Feb 2020
GCC Non-Performing Loans May Deteriorate on Weaker Activity in 2020
GCC banks’ asset quality is likely to stay under pressure as asset growth is showing signs of peaking, according to Fitch Solutions.
28 Feb 2020
South Africa Budget: Huge Wage Bill Cut Raises Credibility Issues, Questions Over Fiscal Health
South Africa’s recently-revealed 2020 budget review contained a series of ambitious pledges designed to win over markets and restore public sector finances, including a ZAR160bn in cuts to public wages over three years, but analysts say the move raises credibility issues and likely sets the stage for a battle with the nation’s powerful unions.
28 Feb 2020